Family Matters

by Robert Ullrich

  “MJ, Dan, please let me introduce you to Angelique Shaloub, originally from Lebanon, now safely ensconced in Duck Key.”

  Mary Jo didn’t hesitate. She held out her arms and Angelique surrendered to the hug. Dan took her hand and led her to her chair, pulling it out for her.

  Lazarus grinned. “You forget something there, Danny-boy?” He held his arms out questioningly.

  “You’re a big boy, Lazarus. I think you can find your way to your chair without help.”

  As Lazarus sat, he noticed a fifth place-setting with no chair. It piqued his curiosity, but he said nothing about it. Dan caught him looking.

  “We’ve got a bit of a surprise for you, Lazarus. I hope you’ll forgive my deception.”

  The puzzled look on Lazarus face was quickly replaced with shock and then a huge grin as Derek wheeled himself up to the table. “Jesus, I didn’t think you were ever gonna sit your ass down, Lazarus. I’ve been hiding in the corner for ten damn minutes.”

  Lazarus got up, speechless for once, and started around the table. Derek held up his hand. “Not so fast Lizard-boy.” Lazarus stopped mid-stride when he heard ‘Lizard-boy’. It was totally incongruous with the surroundings.

  “Lizard-boy?” he asked. “Seriously? Here?”

  “Don’t get your panties in a twist, Lazarus,” said Derek, to the delight of Angelique. She’d never heard anyone talk to Lazarus with such an air of familiarity. She understood the connection immediately. This truly was Lazarus’ brother, by blood or not.

  Lazarus swayed unsteadily on his feet as Derek slowly stood up. His first reaction was to run and catch Derek, but his feet wouldn’t respond. Using the back of first his mom’s chair, then Dan’s, he walked up to Lazarus and wrapped his arms around him.

  Lazarus slowly responded. He was having trouble processing what his eyes were telling him. He finally returned the hug, noticing Angelique grinning. “Did you know about this?” he asked her.

  “Only that Dan had a surprise for you. I had no idea Derek would be here. I’m assuming that is Derek, since no one has introduced us.” Angelique tried to look piqued by the oversite and failed miserably as she grinned from ear to ear.

  “It’s a pleasure, Angelique,” said Derek as he pulled back from Lazarus and clamped his right hand on Lazarus’ shoulders.

  “This isn’t on you, Lazarus. I know how you are,” said Derek. “I am what most people in Texas refer to as a ‘grown-assed man’. I chose to get involved, and I don’t regret it for a second. You need to let this shit go, Lazarus. We made it. I’m walking again. It’ll be awhile, but I will be back in the field again. You can take that to the bank.”

  Lazarus hugged Derek again. “I’ll give it my best, Derek.”

  “Good enough for me,” said Derek as he retreated to his chair.

  The waitress brought a bottle of Taittinger Brut Millesime 2009 that Dan had ordered in honor of Lazarus younger years in France. He knew it was one of his favorites, especially the 2009 vintage.

  “Damn, Dan, you must have gotten a raise,” laughed Lazarus.

  “Not exactly,” answered Derek for his dad. “However, I did receive an anonymous donation, routed through the Agency, to the tune of nearly two billion dollars. Two billion, that’s with a B – Bubba. Oof-tah! Best part, the taxes were paid. General Fischer informed me the funds are in a trust of some sort, and I’ll receive somewhere around 100-K yearly on November first. You know anything about that, buddy?”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” said Lazarus, and very convincingly.

  Derek hesitated. “Hmm, my camouflaged friend. I think you do.”

  “No, Derek, I don’t. Frankly, I don’t have that kind of cash laying around. I’m rich, sure, but most of my money is tied up in the foundation and the businesses I own around the country.

  “Whoever, or whatever the reason, it couldn’t happen to a better man,” said Lazarus as he raised his glass. “To friends, and family,” said Lazarus, using the second term for the first time around anyone. It didn’t go unnoticed by anyone at the table.

  “Skoal!” said Derek and they tapped glasses all around.

  Dinner went by in a blur. The steaks were excellent, the vegetables fresh and the desert, a slice of good-old-fashioned apple pie were all well above par. Derek even snatched the bill before Lazarus could get to it.

  “Thank you, Derek,” said Angelique. “Dan, Mary Jo, it’s been a delight to meet you.”

  “You’re not through with us yet,” said Mary Jo. “We’ve got the guest room all made up for you.” She shot a curious look at Lazarus. “If we get separated in traffic, don’t fret. Lazarus knows the way.”

  “Ouch!” said Derek. “You want some salve to go with that burn, Lazarus?”

  “Very funny,” said Lazarus, who was laughing. He looked to Angelique. “Maybe I can get Dan to tell you the story of how we first met.”

  “Bullshit, Lazarus,” said Dan, who rarely cussed. “That is YOUR story to tell. I still get the creeps thinking about it.”

  Derek and MJ both laughed at Dan.

  “I was thinking,” said Lazarus, “since we’re already this far north, maybe I’ll head over to Chicago before going back south. The weather looks good for the next few days.”

  Angelique slapped her hand to her mouth, cursing under her breath in French.

  Lazarus gave her a curious look. “What was that about, Mon Cherie?”

  “Oh, Lazarus, I’m sorry. I was so excited you finally made it home I forgot to give you this.” She reached into her purse and retrieved a letter, handing it to Lazarus. It was from Darnell. “It arrived yesterday.”

  Lazarus smiled as he took it. “No worries, my love. It was only one day, and we were rather busy last night.”

  A crimson blush creeped up her neck despite her efforts to remain nonplussed. Lazarus winked and Mary Jo popped Lazarus on the shoulder. “Men,” she growled.

  “Do you mind?” Lazarus asked, holding the letter aloft.

  “Not at all,” said Dan. “You read your letter while we finish off another bottle of the Tattinger.”

  Lazarus slipped his finger under the flap tearing the envelope open. He pulled out the letter and began to read. His face paling immediately.

  *****

  November 13th, 2017

  Hey Lazarus,

  There’s no good way to go about this, so I will get to the point. If you are reading this, it means that Helen and I are probably already dead. My apologies for being so direct. The only way this letter could have been sent would have been by Mark, the young man who lives with us as cook and companion. Another one of Helen’s rescues over the years.

  I started this letter when I heard about the contract on both of us by the Tongs. It’s been hell here the past five years. Turf wars, drive-by shootings, assassinations, you get the idea. Helen has tried to negotiate with them, but they want all the southside. We both know she would never cave to that kind of demand. The hardest part of all is knowing that we were getting out of this life by the end of the year. I have lived by the sword for far too many years, and Helen would tell you the same.

  It was Angelique who noticed the change in Lazarus first. She put her hand on Mary Jo’s and squeezed. She picked up on it immediately and got Dan and Derek’s attention. They all set their glasses down and leaned back quietly as he read.

  I wasn’t sure, hell, I’m still not sure what to say to you. So, I’ll just lay it out there.

  Helen was gunned down night before last as she was coming out of Cook County. She’d been there working with some patients with PTSD. Lazarus, they riddled her with bullets. The coroner couldn’t even come up with a number it was so bad. I buried her today.

  Lazarus wasn’t aware of the tears running down his cheeks. He made no sound; his body didn’t react. His eyes simply overflowed as he read. Dan noticed a couple at the next table were watching. They had laid their utensils down and were holding hands. The girl was silently crying along with Lazarus
. Their waitress approached, stopping five feet from the table. She took a seat, not wanting to intrude.

  You know me, Lazarus. You know what I must do. I took care of all the business stuff yesterday. I signed over the house to Mark and paid off my mom’s house and my sister’s, too. The rest I put in a trust for her kids. Those girls are going to get out of this neighborhood, out of this life. It’s been hell for me ever since they killed my pops at that corner store. He was in there getting milk and was gunned down. Wrong place, wrong time. I’ve been living this life since I was eight years old, Lazarus. Eight years old. Working to support my moms and my sister. I hit thirty-eight last month. Thirty is enough.

  The silence around the table spread as Lazarus read. Unaware, he rose from his chair; physically reacting to what he read. It caught the attention of others in the restaurant. The image of a man, well over six feet tall, young and strong, weeping silent tears was moving those people to silence. A silence of respect, for what they knew not.

  I thought about calling you, but only for a minute. You were up to your ass in Los Zapatos, hell, you still might be for all I know. I hope you made it back to find this. I didn’t want to put this on you. You would head to Chicago in a heart-beat. I know that. You would have rained death down on the Tongs; I know that, too. Lazarus, if you can hear what I am saying – don’t. Our lives don’t need avenging.

  We chose this life and lived it well. We both owe for the lives we took. It is my dying request that you do not come to Chicago. Katsumi’s going to need you more than ever. We never got a chance to say good-bye. She’ll make it. She’s got you for a father. Yeah, that’s what I said. You are her father Lazarus Solaris. You have been since the day you gave her a choice. You look after her. Tell LJ if he doesn’t treat her right, I will come back from hell itself to haunt his ass. That is, if you don’t kill him first.

  You need to understand this, Lazarus. You are my brother. You have been for twenty years. We could never get you to truly recognize it, but hopefully in time you will. You are family to us. We are going to live on in you, in Katsumi, in Mark and many others we’ve helped over the years.

  The world will not mourn us. I’m a thug. It’s the truth. It’s what I am, Lazarus. The shock-collar for a street gang that deals in death. I don’t want you to mourn us either. I want you to have one hell of a damn Fourth of July Bar-b-que next year. Do it like we did. A whole hog cooked in the ground. You know how to do it. You’ve been there often enough. Though you were generally the only cracker at the party.

  Lazarus smiled through the tears at the cracker insult. It was a running joke for twenty years between them. The smile faded quickly.

  Well, Lazarus, I’ve been dragging this damn letter out long enough. It’s time for me to go. They’ll write about me in the papers, and probably even make national news by the time I’m done with the Tongs. I won’t survive this, Lazarus. I know it is my time to move on. I’m ready. They took my reason for living, so I am going to take their lives; as many as I can before they finally put me down.

  I love you, brother. You are the only man I’ve ever said that to. Keep my spirit alive, Lazarus. Take care of the girlie for me. Do right by Angelique – that woman adores you. I know I am asking the near impossible of you, Lazarus, but I am asking. Please, let me die believing you will not come to Chicago for vengeance. I want your word, brother to brother, Lazarus. Brother to Brother – let it go. It’s my time, and I am going willingly into the night to be with the one I love.

  Peace, Lazarus. More than anything, let there be peace.

  Darnell, aka D, aka Night Stalker, aka Husband.

  *****

  Angelique gathered their coats and stood next to Lazarus, gently gaining his attention by touching his hand. The letter fell from his fingers as he turned; allowing her to slip his coat on. Taking his hand, she retrieved the letter and slipped it in her purse. Lazarus lifted his head, his eyes unfocused, his breathing shallow. The Grimsrud family sat quietly, not knowing what was in the letter, but understanding its message was devastating to Lazarus. To see him this way, tears on his face, confirmed for them subconsciously; Lazarus had a deep heart. It may be closed off to almost the entire world, but not all.

  No one in the restaurant spoke as Angelique led Lazarus out to the rented Jeep. He climbed in the passenger’s seat without protest, leaning his head back against the rest, he closed his eyes and sighed deeply. As Angelique maneuvered her way through the parking lot, Lazarus began to truly cry at the loss of Dr. Helen and Darnell. Deep inside, a struggle was beginning – would he be able to honor Darnell’s last request and stay away from Chicago?

  The thought that tipped the scales and determined his course of action, Katsumi. As hard hit as he was by the news, the delicate balance of life in Katsumi was tied to Darnell like none other. Lazarus wasn’t sure LJ would be able to handle it, but he would have to give him his chance. LJ had earned it.

  Angelique pulled into a Quality Inn & Suites as she neared the airport. Lazarus didn’t object. An hour later he lay in bed, his head on Angelique’s stomach as she stoked his brow until he fell into a fitful sleep.

  ~33~

  MARCH 8, 2017

  Lazarus honored Darnell’s last request; he didn’t go to Chicago. What he did do, was have packages delivered to the head of every Tong in Chicago. The packages all came from China, so no suspicions were aroused. Sixty members of the various Tongs died that day when the packages were opened. There was an international investigation, hampered by relations with China. The Chinese did a thorough investigation, evening inviting members of the FBI to accompany them.

  The packages were all traced to the same parcel service, located in Zhengzhou, a city with a population nearing ten million. The lady who ran the service remembered the man who shipped the six 10-pound packages to Chicago. She had no security footage but gave them a good description. He was an elderly man, probably in his sixties, He spoke fluent Chinese Mandarin with a slight Western European accent. She couldn’t say for sure, but thought perhaps French, maybe Belgian. The lead fizzled out overnight. The unknown subject used a fake ID to ship the packages. The phone number went to a McDonalds in Beijing.

  The Chinese Government took the investigation to Hong Kong, home to many of the Tongs. They cracked down hard on the organizations. They were all given a clear message, “Another bombing of the Tongs in America which is traced back to China will have devastating results to their organizations.” It may have been a show for the FBI agents assigned to the case, but it didn’t feel like it. Special Agent James Castellano, SAC of the Chicago FBI office, got the distinct impression the Tongs took it very seriously.

  *****

  Katsumi took the news better then Lazarus had expected. When he broke the news to her, she slid soundlessly to the floor, laying her head in Lazarus lap where she quietly wept for the better part of an hour. That might seem excessive to some, but not Lazarus; not knowing Katsumi as he did.

  To everyone’s amazement, it wasn’t LJ who carried Katsumi through her grief. Rebecca took the reins and spent hours with Katsumi for weeks. She kept LJ involved, too. Rebecca knew that their budding romance could die easily considering the loss of two so close to Katsumi. LJ was a rock. A rock with the patience of Job. The three became closer because of the loss, and Rebecca was accepted wholeheartedly as part of the family.

  *****

  The concept of family was something Lazarus struggled with. He never kidded himself. He didn’t have the emotional depth of ‘normal’ people. He could detach completely from his emotions and never felt remorse. Lazarus received support from an unexpected place. Angelique’s parents came to visit the first of February. They stayed at the Resort, not wanting to intrude, even though they were offered the guest house.

  It was Angelique’s father, Jabari, who seemed to be able to reach Lazarus. They went out on the Ziva for hours at a time, sometimes staying out all night. Neither man ever revealed what was discussed. It was between men, and Jabari, a M
uslim, was particularly adamant about the sanctity of their conversations. It wasn’t all based on his beliefs. He shared things with Lazarus his wife didn’t know.

  Jabari and Qmara had planned on staying for two weeks. At the end of the two weeks they had at the Hawk’s Cay Resort, Lazarus convinced Jabari to move into the guest house. They stayed until the end of March. Jabari insisted they had to be returning to Lebanon or by the time he got back his business would be in shambles. Their departure at Miami International caught more than one person by surprise as Jabari hugged Lazarus tightly for at least a full minute. He kissed Lazarus on both cheeks and whispered in his ear. “Take care of my daughter, Lazarus. She is dearer to me than life itself, as she is to Qmara.

  “I will tell you this, Lazarus my son,” said Jabari with a hint of a grin. “Qmara is far more dangerous than me. She can be a real hell-cat. Don’t repeat this,” said Jabari as he looked to see if Qmara was looking. “The woman scares me – just a little, but enough to keep me from having a wandering eye. I tell you this, because Angelique is more like her mother than she is me. Consider this fair warning from your Father-in-law. Yes, I know you are not wed. It matters not to me. She is my daughter. She loves you and I have NO doubt, you will care for her as a precious gem. There-fore, you are Shaloub as much as Solaris.”

  With that, Jabari laughed heartily and gave Lazarus another hug. Lazarus smiled back, surprised by the intimate embraces of Angelique’s father.

  The drive back to Duck Key was quiet. Angelique nodded off shortly after leaving the airport. Lazarus spent the time pondering the impact of family matters in his life. Part of him hated the concept. It opened him to vulnerabilities he’d never faced. It added responsibilities to his choices. As near as he could determine, His whole life had changed with the knowledge gained.

  The Grimsrud’s showed up on the 2nd of July. Lazarus was at the Second Chance Foundation for the day. Angelique put them in the guest house against protestations to the contrary.